Gas-fired cooking griddle

ABSTRACT

A cooking griddle has a burner with a valve controlling gas flow to the burner. The valve is rotatable through an increased arc for controlling flow of gas to the burner. A knob for rotating the valve includes indicia for indicating a relative position of the valve.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to gas fired cooking appliances, and, moreparticularly, the invention pertains to the control of a gas firedcooking griddle that may be independent or part of a cooking range.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Gas fired cooking ranges are used in both residential and commercialkitchens. A basic design for a gas fired range includes a gas supplysource, a manifold and one or more burner assemblies for receiving gasfrom the gas supply source via a connection to the manifold. It is alsoknown to provide a cooking griddle as part of the cook top. It isfurther known to provide cooking griddles independent of gas fired, openflame cooking tops.

A cooking griddle is known to provide a substantially continuous flatcooking surface on which food items can be placed directly for cooking.

Whereas open flame cooking tops are generally used with cooking utensilssuch as pots or pans, a griddle can be used by placing the food directlyon the griddle surface. While a utensil can be placed on a griddle, itis more common that the food is cooked directly on the griddle surface,without an intervening utensil.

Many different types of foods can be prepared on a griddle, including byway of example and without limitation, hamburgers and other meats, eggs,pancakes and the like.

In known designs, the griddle top is supported on a support structure inthe range or independent griddle frame, with outer sheeting panels ofthe appliance substantially meeting the outer edge of the griddle top.One or more burners, often of an elongate form, are provided in a spacebeneath the griddle top. The burner or burners are connected to a gasmanifold in the appliance, to which cooking gas is provided. A valvecontrols the flow of gas from the manifold to the burner.

Several problems and inconveniences have been experienced with knowncooking griddles. The griddle burner is confined in a substantiallyenclosed space, with limited viewing access thereto. Accordingly,someone operating and adjusting the burner for the desired heating ofthe griddle cannot easily see the flame emanating from the burner.Unlike open burners of cook tops, it is difficult for a cook toknowingly adjust the griddle burner to a desired heat setting.Experienced cooks viewing an open flame of a cook top can easily judgethe performance of the burner for the utensil being used and the foodbeing prepared. The same is not true for griddle adjustment in which theburner cannot be seen easily. Accordingly, cooks have resorted topeering through cracks, spaces and small openings in the housing in anattempt to see the griddle burner flame. This is especially problematicin commercial kitchens in which one setting may be desired early in themorning when preparing breakfast foods such as pancakes, eggs, bacon orthe like and then another setting for the preparation of lunch or dinnerfoods including meats such as hamburgers, chicken breasts or the like.

In addition to limited viewability of the burner flame, adjustment ofgriddle burners has been difficult in that only limited rotation isavailable for turning the valve and adjusting the gas flow. Griddlevalves have typically rotated a maximum of 90°, with perhaps only 40 to45° actually varying the gas flow, with the remainder of the rotationnot affecting gas flow. Rotation through only a narrow arc can cause asignificant change in the gas flow, and a correspondingly significantchange in burner output. Accordingly, it has been difficult to controlthe temperature of griddles, with the control not being very precise.Thermostatically controlled valves are known, with a bulb and capillarysensor adjusting gas flow to a desired heat setting. However, suchthermostatically controlled valves are expensive and subject to failure.

What is needed is a griddle burner control providing easier and moreaccurate control of griddle heating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a griddle with a control valve having alarger range through which the valve can be rotated and over which itwill control the flow of gas. The control knob is provided with indiciafor indicating the valve position.

An advantage of the present invention is providing a griddle that ismore easily adjusted and more precisely controlled than known griddleburner arrangements.

Another advantage of the present invention is providing a griddle burnerassembly that is more conveniently used than known burner assemblies.

Still another advantage of the present invention is providing a griddleassembly with improved heating accuracy that can be provided more costeffectively than known thermostatically controlled griddle assemblies.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon review of the following detaileddescription, claims and drawings in which like numerals are used todesignate like features.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gas-fired cooking range having agriddle in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged perspective view of the area ofgriddle valves, with control knobs, on the range showed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gas circuit in the range shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged plan view of a knob for the valves of the griddle;and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cook top on the range, with thegrates and griddle top removed.

Before the embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangements of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use herein of“including”, “comprising” and variations thereof is meant to encompassthe items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof, as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more specifically to the drawings and to FIG. 1 inparticular, numeral 10 designates a gas-fired cooking range having agriddle area 12 and a gas circuit 14 (FIG. 3) in accordance with thepresent invention. The present invention can be used for various cookingappliances including commercial ranges, residential ranges andindependent cooking griddles that are not part of a cooking range. Theembodiment shown in FIG. 1 is merely an exemplar of an application ofthe present invention.

Griddle area 12 is part of a cook top 16 that further includes twoopen-flame cooking locations 18 and 20. Range 10 further includes anoven 22 accessed through a door 24 having a handle 26. Legs 28 supportrange 10, and can be pedestal-like supports as shown, or can be wheelsor casters to facilitate moving range 10 for cleaning

Gas circuit 14 includes a main gas line 30 connected to a gas fuelsource such as, for example, a natural gas line from a natural gasutility, a propane tank or the like. Those skilled in the art willreadily understand that additional equipment not shown, such as apressure regulator, main shut off valve and other suitable and requiredequipment, fittings and the like are provided as necessary for couplingmain gas line 30 to the source of gaseous fuel and to control andregulate the flow of gaseous fuel. For example, main gas line 30 can beconnected to the fuel source via a flexible hose (not shown) to allowcooking range 10 to be moved a short distance for cleaning the kitchenin which it is used.

Main gas line 30 supplies gas to a gas manifold 32 extending along thefront, top area of range 10. A cook top gas shutoff valve 34 is providedat the inlet end of manifold 32, upstream of cook top gas flow controlvalves to be described subsequently herein that are in flowcommunication with manifold 32.

Shutoff valve 34 can be used to initiate or terminate the flow of gasfrom gas line 30 to manifold 32. Thus, by closing shutoff valve 34, theflow of gas from gas line 30 to manifold 32 can be stopped, withoutinterrupting the flow of gas from gas line 30 to an oven branch gas line(not shown) connected at a coupling 36 upstream of cook top shutoffvalve 34.

An open flame burner assembly 40 (FIG. 5) provides open flames foropen-flame cooking locations 18 and 20. Open flame burner assembly 40has burner heads 42, 44 at cooking locations 18, 20, respectively.Burner heads 42, 44 are connected in gas flow communication to manifold32 via an orifice defined at open flame burner control valves 46 and 48,respectively. Each control valve 46, 48 is provided for initiating,terminating and controlling the flow rate of combustible gas frommanifold 32 to a different burner head 42, 44, respectively.

The manner in which control valves 46, 48 are installed and used is wellknown to those skilled in the art and will not be described in furtherdetail herein.

A pilot light connection 50 is provided for supplying gas from manifold32 to pilot gas lines 52, 54, respectively, for burner heads 42, 44.

Burner assembly 40, as described previously includes two burner heads42, 44. However, it should be understood that separate individual burnerassemblies can be provided for each open flame cooking location 18 and20.

Burner heads 42, 44 are substantially annular bodies defining open topannular channels with burner head covers 56, 58 provided thereonrespectively.

Each cover 56, 58 has a plurality of holes 60 therein through which amixture of combustion gas and primary combustion air is emitted.

Burner assembly 40 includes a single piece, monolithic casting forming afirst venturi 62 and a second venturi 64 together with burner heads 42,44 in back and front locations respectively on range 10. As known tothose skilled in the art, each venturi 62, 64 is aligned with adifferent burner control valve 46, 48 to receive gas therefrom when thecontrol valve 46, 48 is opened to allow gas to flow therethrough frommanifold 32. As known to those skilled in the art, venturis 62, 64 alsoadmit a flow of ambient air to mix with the combustion gas in venturis62, 64 via one or more openings 66, 68 defined in baffle plates 70, 72respectively.

In the assembled cooking range 10, grates 74, 76 respectively areprovided at open flame cooking locations 18, 20 above burner heads 42,44 for supporting cooking utensils such as pots and pans.

As illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 5, griddle area 12 includes agriddle top 80 defining a cooking surface 82. A back 84 and sides 86, 88tapering from the back to the front of griddle top 80 are provided atthe periphery of cooking surface 82 to confine foods on surface 82.Griddle top 80 is supported in range 10 along an outer side rail 90 andalong an intermediate support 92 defined in the main body of range 10. Aback panel 94 and front ledge 96 together with the aforementioned siderail 90 and support 92 define a substantially enclosed space 98 beneathgriddle top 80.

First and second griddle burners 100, 102 are provided in space 98,beneath griddle top 80. Griddle burners 100, 102 are in gas flowcommunication with manifold 32 via griddle control valves 104 and 106,respectively. Each griddle control valve 104, 106 includes a valve body108, 110 engaged in an opening 112, 114 in manifold 32. Valve stems 116,118 control and adjust flow of gas through valve bodies 112, 114.

Valves 104, 106 are opened by rotating stems 116, 118 from a closedposition to a fully open position. In contrast to known griddle controlvalves that have minimal rotation between fully closed and fully openedpositions, stems 116, 118 rotate at least about 180° through which theflow of gas varies. In a preferred embodiment for griddle control valves104, 106 stems 116, 118 have a total rotation of about 250° with acontrol range therein of at least approximately 180° for the control ofgas flow.

Thus, valves 104, 106 have significantly greater total rotation andsignificantly greater rotation through which gas flow is adjusted thanknown griddle control valves having a total rotation of about 90° and arotation less than 90° over which effective variation in gas flow can beachieved. With a greater arc through which valves 116 and 118 can berotated while controlling gas flow, finer control of gas flow ispossible, and thus a finer control of the intensity of flames fromburners 100, 102.

When griddle area 12 is completely assembled, with griddle top 80disposed and supported in its cooking position, space 98 issubstantially enclosed.

Observing burners 100, 102 for evaluating the height and intensity offlames coming therefrom is difficult. Thus, controlling heating ofsurface 82 is difficult.

In accordance with the present invention, valves 104, 106 are providedwith control knobs 120, 122 respectively, on stems 116, 118 and by whichstems 116, 118 can be rotated for increasing or decreasing gas flow toburners 100, 102 and thereby the intensity of flames from burners 100,102. Knobs 120, 122 are similar, with knob 120 being shown in FIG. 4.

Each knob 120, 122 includes markings or indicia 124 by which therelative position of knob 120, 122 can be evaluated, and thereby therotational positions of valve stem 116 or 118, respectively. Thus, byevaluating the rotational position of knob 120 or 122 the intensity offlame and thereby the heat supplied to cooking surface 82 can beevaluated. Indicia 124 include an “off” position mark 126 and a fully“on” position mark 128, with one or more intermediate markings 130, 132indicating intermediate positions for stems 116, 118 and therebyintermediate flame intensities and intermediate heating levels forsurface 82. Indicia such as reference marks 134, 136 adjacent knobs 120,122 on a viewable surface of range 10 provide references by which toevaluate the relative rotational positions of indicia 124.

To ignite griddle burners 100, 102, griddle pilot light assemblies 138,140 are provided connected to manifold 32 via pilot system valves 142,144. Other types of igniters also can be used.

The present invention provides more precise flame control by providing amore readily adjustable valve having greater rotation and thereby moreprecisely controlled variation in the flow of gas as the valve isrotated between fully closed and fully open positions. The knob providesindicia or indicators as reference points by which an operator canselect a setting for the rotational position of the valve stems. As aresult, even without a thermostatic control, relative heating forsurface 82 can be duplicated from one cooking session to the next byrotating knobs 120, 122 to similar reference positions during eachsuccessive cooking session. Rather than waiting for warm-up and testing,a cook can position one or more of valves 104, 106 to an acceptablesetting determined from a previous cooking session, and can rely onsubstantially similar heating for surface 82. The indicia provide readyreference points for duplicating the rotational position from onecooking session to the next.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope ofthe present invention. It is understood that the invention disclosed anddefined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more ofthe individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/ordrawings. All of these different combinations constitute variousalternative aspects of the present invention. The embodiments describedherein explain the best modes known for practicing the invention andwill enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. Theclaims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted by the prior art.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1. A cooking appliance comprising: an appliance body; a griddle tophaving a cooking surface, said griddle top being disposed on andsupported by said appliance body; a substantially enclosed space beneathsaid griddle top, said space having limited viewing access thereto; aburner disposed in said substantially enclosed space; a gas manifold infuel flow communication with said burner; a valve for controlling fuelflow from said manifold to said burner, said valve including a valvebody and a rotatable stem, said stem being rotatable through a range ofgreater than about 180° for adjusting fuel flow from said manifoldthrough said valve and to said burner; and a knob on said stem exposedon a viewable surface of said appliance body, with at least one of saidknob and said appliance body including indicia for indicating a relativeposition of said knob.
 2. The cooking appliance of claim 1, said valvebody being disposed in an opening in said manifold.
 3. The cookingappliance of claim 1, including at least one open burner defining acooking location different from said griddle, said open burner being infuel flow communication with said gas manifold.
 4. The cooking applianceof claim 1, said indicia being at least on said knob.
 5. The cookingappliance of claim 1, said indicia including visually apparent markingson each said knob and said appliance body.
 6. The cooking appliance ofclaim 5, said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold.7. The cooking appliance of claim 5, including at least one open burnerdefining a cooking location different from said griddle, said openburner being in fuel flow communication with said gas manifold.
 8. Thecooking appliance of claim 7, said valve body being disposed in anopening in said manifold.
 9. The cooking appliance of claim 1, said stembeing rotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.
 10. A gascook top, comprising: at least one open burner providing an open flamecooking location; a griddle area having a griddle top and asubstantially enclosed griddle burner with limited viewing access tosaid griddle burner beneath said griddle top; a gas manifold in fuelflow communication with said open burner and with said griddle burner;and a griddle valve having a valve body and a valve stem rotatable insaid valve body for controlling flow of gas from said manifold throughsaid valve and to said griddle burner, said stem being rotatable througha range of rotation greater than 180° for adjusting fuel flow throughsaid valve.
 11. The gas cook top of claim 10, including a knob on saidstem and indicia on said knob for indicating a relative position of saidknob throughout said range of rotation.
 12. The gas cook top of claim10, said valve body being disposed in an opening in said manifold. 13.The gas cook top of claim 12, said stem being rotatable through a totalrange of at least about 250°.
 14. The gas cook top of claim 13,including a knob on said stem and indicia on said knob for indicating arelative position of said knob throughout said range of rotation. 15.The gas cook top of claim 10, said stem being rotatable through a totalrange of at least about 250°.
 16. The gas cook top of claim 15,including a knob on said stem and indicia on said knob for indicating arelative position of said knob throughout said range of rotation.
 17. Agas cook top, comprising: at least one open burner providing an openflame cooking location; a griddle area having a griddle top and asubstantially enclosed griddle burner with limited viewing access tosaid griddle burner beneath said griddle top; a gas manifold in fuelflow communication with said open burner and with said griddle burner;and a griddle valve having a valve body and a valve stem rotatable insaid valve body for controlling flow of gas from said manifold throughsaid valve and to said griddle burner; and a knob on said stem exposedand viewable on a surface of said appliance body, with indicia on saidknob indicating a relative position of said knob including a fullyopened position, a fully closed position and at least one intermediateposition between said fully opened position and said fully closedposition.
 18. The gas cook top of claim 17, said stem being rotatablethrough a range of greater than at least about 180° for adjusting fuelflow from said valve.
 19. The gas cook top of claim 17, said stem beingrotatable through a total range of at least about 250°.
 20. The gas cooktop of claim 17, said valve body being disposed in an opening in saidmanifold.